School Pool Meeting:
Community Members Voice Concerns, Frustration
by Judy Silberstein
(
July 18, 2002
)
Eighteen community members appeared at this morning's open meeting of the Mamaroneck School District Building Committee to discuss the status of the Hommocks Pool. The attendees listened to the district's explanations of construction, filtration and code compliance problems that have required closing the pool longer than anticipated and have led to removal of the diving boards. Many then offered opinions about what should be done and voiced frustrations over the continuing problems at the pool and the way the district was managing the situation. In response, Superintendent Sherry King suggested the district would schedule additional meetings, consult with additional experts, and continue to focus on immediate problems.
As of Tuesday morning, the large pool remained open for swimming, but the water is not as clear as it should be, said Mr. Frank Pia, a founding member of the Hommocks Pool Advisory Group, an organization formed in response to the pool's problems.
According to Pia, reports from the Westchester Board of Health suggest there might be problems with the pool's chemical balance in addition to its clarity. He also concurred with the decision to remove the diving boards at Hommocks because he believes there is insufficient clearance between the boards and the main beam of the pool roof.
Other issues raised during the meeting included: management of the pool; communication between the school and the pool users; and what the district will be doing in the future to address concerns and problems.
"People are angry."
Parent of swim club member.
Members of the HPAG argued that the Town of Mamaroneck would be the better entity to manage the pool. Superintendent Sherry King explained that the Town and school confer constantly over management of the pool. Assistant Superintendent Sarah Tate pointed out that the pool is an integral part of the Hommocks Middle School physical education curriculum during ten months of the year.
"I don't think the meeting should be made into something adversarial - an us vs. them. We're all members of the community and many of us use the pool as well."Celia Felsher, member of the Mamaroneck Board of Education
Superintendent King apologized for the paucity of communication, particularly over the July 4th holiday when the district was conferring daily with pool experts and attempting a variety of solutions. She said, "We were worried about having nothing to say," when none of the information appeared definitive.
In response to a number of requests for further, longer and specific meetings, King suggested the following four steps:
- Before the end of August, the district will hold an evening community meeting on the pool.
- The district will immediately call any pool experts suggested by the attendees.
- In mid-August the district will hold a smaller, working session and will invite community members who have relevant expertise.
For the immediate period, the district will be addressing the issue of water clarity.
Additional articles on the Hommocks Pool appear on Larchmont Gazette:
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